Pipe-wrench.



Patented Aug. I4, |900. G. E. GARNER & S. M. WADE.

PIPE WRENCH. (Application medv Jn. 1s, i900.) (N0 lldal.)

1H: Nonms PETERS co, PNeToLn'Ho.. wnsnmnwn. o. c.

t Urrn 'rn'rns Nnfrnnrfr prient GEORGE E. GARNER AND SEDGIVIOK M. WADE, OF ANDOVER, OHIO; SAID IVADE ASSIGNOR TO SAID GARNER.

PIPE-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,774, dated August 14, 1900. Application tiled January 1S, 1900. Serial No- 13661 (N0 DIDSL) T0 all w/tom t treaty oon/067%:

Be it known that we, GEORGE E. GARNER and SEDGWIOK M WADE, residing at Andover, in the county of Ashtabula and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Wrenches; and We do hereby declare the following to be af ull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in pipe-wrenches; and it consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a Wrench of the character indicated that is exceedingly simple in construction, conveniently operated, and reliable in its operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a side elevation, partly in section, of a wrench embodying our invention, and in this iigure the wrench is shown in an operative position operating upon a pipe that is shown in section, Fig. II is a transverse section on line II II, Fig. I. Fig. III is a side elevation, partly in section, of the Wrench and shows how the slide that carries the adjustable jaw of the wrench is manipulated preparatory to shifting it endwise of the serrated or notched bar upon which the relatively-stationary jaw of the wrench is provided. l

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates the serrated or notched bar of the wrench that terminates at one end in the janT 6. The bar 5 is provided in the usual manner with a series of parallel notches 7, formed in and arranged transversely of the inner longitudinal edge of the said bar. A slide 8 isv mounted upon the notched portion of the bar 5 and movable endwise of the bar. The slide 8 consists, preferably, of a U shaped metallic piece that straddles the bar 5 from the latters outer edge-that is, the central member 9 of the said slide-forming `piece overlaps the outer longitudinal edge of thebar 5, and the end members 10 and 10 of the said slide-forming piece snugly overlap opposite sides, respectively, oi the bar 5 and extend from the outer edgeof the said bar inwardly beyond the inner and notched edge of the bar a suitable distance, and the end members 10 of the slide are gradually reduced in Width toward their free ends.

11 designates the adjustable jaw of the wrench. The jaw 1l is pivoted, as at 12, to and transversely of the end members 10 and 10 of the slide. The jaw 11 projects into and is mainly arranged within the space between the jaw 6 and the inner side edges of the end members l0 and 10 of the slide. `The jaw 11 terminates at its axis in an arm 13, that eX- tends in the direction of the handle-forming end of the bar 5. The arm 13 of the jaW 11 constitutes a poise or weight that is heavy enough to cause the said jaw to automatically release the pipe held between the two jaws of the wrench when the operator ceases to manipulate the wrench.

The slide 8 of the wrench is provided between its end members 10 and 10 and at the outer side edges lof the said members 10 with a tooth 14, that is integral with the said members 10 and is arranged between the bar 5 and the jaw 11 and normally engages an opposing notch of the notched portion of the bar 5. A leaf-spring 16 is interposed between the end member 7 of the slide-forming piece and the outer longitudinal edge of the bar 5. The said spring extends longitudinally of 'the bar 5 and acts to retain the slide in position, with its tooth 14 in engagement With the opposing notch in the bar 5. The central member 9 of the slide-forming piece normally has its innerend snugly engaging the outer edge of the bar 5 and is thickest at the said end, so that in the normal position of the parts there is a space l5 between the remaining portion of the said member 9 of the slide and the said edge of the bar 5. The spring 16 is secured at its inner end, as at 17, to the thicker end of the said member 9 of the slide and is normally bowed outwardly, as at 1S, against the inner side of the said member of the slide and has its free end portion engaging the outer edge of the bar 5i The outwardly-bowed portion 1S of the spring constitutes a fulcrum upon which the slide S can be tilted or rocked longitudinally of the bar 5 against the action of the said spring, as shown in Fig. III. It will be observed, therefore, that the central member 9 of the slide forms a rocker that IOO normally has a limited movement in the one direction against the action of the spring and to the extent required to disengage the tooth of the slide from the notched portion of the bar 5, but is prevented from moving in the opposite direction by the engagement of the thicker or inwardly-enlarged end of the said member 9 with the said bar.

The arrangement of the notches of the bar 5 and the tooth 1st of the slide 8 is such that the slide 8 is free to move at all times in the direction of the stationary jaw 6, but can only be moved in the direction of the handle-forming end of the bar by disengaging the said tooth from the notched portion of thebar, and the tooth 14 is disengaged from the opposing notch by tilting the slide, as aforesaid, against the action of the spring 16, as shown in Fig. III.

The work-engageable face of the stationary jaw is notched, serrated, or roughened in the usual manner to render it capable of suitably biting the pipe that is to be turned or manipulated by the Wrench.

20 designates a pipe held between the two jaws of the wrench, (illustrated in Fig. I,) and the wrench is shown in the position required to turn the pipein the direction indicated by the arrow 21.

The work-engageable face of the adjustable jaw is arranged eccentrically to its pivotal bearing and to the work-engageable face of the stationary jaw. The said eccentricity of the adjustable jaw is important, because it causes the said jaw to irmly engage the pipe or work during the manipulation of the wrench in turning the work held between the jaws, and upon ceasing to manipulate the wrench the adjustable jaw automatically loosens relative to the work and readily accommodates aremoval of the wrench from the work.

By the construction hereinbefore described the adjustable jaw during the manipulation of the pipe by the wrench presses upon the slide 8 in the direction of the handle-bearing end of the notched bar 5, and thereby positively retains the tooth 14 of the said slide in engagement with the opposing notch of the said bar.

By the construction hereinbefore described the wrench would release its hold of the pipe or work as soon as the operator ceased to manipulate the tool and the tool would drop from the Work if the operator were to let go of it. To enable the Wrench to remain seizing the work while the operator does something else or for other purposes, we provide means for locking the adjustable jaw in its operative 0r work-holding position, and the said means consist, preferably, of a sleeve 25, that is slidably mounted upon the arm 13 of the saidjaw, which slide-forming sleeve is provided at its inner end and below the said arm with a wedge 26, that is adapted to enter and till the space between the said arm and the tooth 14, as shown in Fig. I, and thereby retain the said jaw in its Work-holding position. The Wedge 26 is readily rendered inoperative by disengaging it from the said space, as shown in Fig. IH. j

Referring again to the jaws of the wrench, we would remark that it is essential to the operation of our improved wrench that the tiltable jaw shall have a smooth work-en gageable surface, whereas the opposing coperating surface of the stationaryjaw must be serrated. The smoothness of the work-engageable surface of the tiltable jaw is necessary to enable the said jaw to automatically recede from or release the work upon discontinuing the operation of the wrench. It will also be observed that no spring acting to retain the tiltable jaw 11 in its operative position is employed, because if such a spring were applied the tiltable jaw would not automatically disengage the work upon discontinuing the operation of the wrench. In ourimproved tool upon rendering the sleeve 25 inoperative the poise 13 immediately descends and results in the release of the work by the jaw 11. We would remark also that the formation of the tooth 14 integral with the end members 10 and 10 of the slide 8 braces apart and reinforces the said end members. This feature is important, because it adds to the durability of the tool and renders the operation of the tool more reliable.

What we claim is- 1. A pipe-wrench comprising the following: a bar 5 having one end thereotl forming a handle and provided, at its opposite end, with one of the jaws of the wrench, and having its inner edge provided with a series of notches 7, which jaw has its work-engageable surface serrated; a slide mounted upon the bar and extending a suitable distance beyond the inner and notched edge of the bar; a tooth formed upon the slide and engaging a notch of the aforesaid series of notches; means acting to retain the said tooth in engagement with the opposing notch, and the tiltable jaw 11 arranged opposite to the first-mentioned jaw and pivoted. to and transversely of the slide and provided with a poise-forming arm that extends in the direction of the handleforming end of the bar, which tiltable jaw has its work-engageable surface smooth and arranged eccentrically of the pivotal bearing of the said jaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A pipe-wrench comprising the bar 5 having the series of notches 7, and the serrated jaw 6; a slide 8 consisting of a U-shaped metallic piece straddling the bar from the bars outer longitudinal edge, and having its end members 10 and 10 snugly overlapping opposite sides, respectively, of the bar and extending beyond the notched edge of the bar; a tooth formed upon and between and integral with the said end members, which tooth engages a notch of the aforesaid series of notches; means acting to retain the said tooth in engagement with the opposing notch; the

TIO

tiltable jaw ll pivoted to and transversely of the said end members of the slide and having its work-engageable" surface smooth an`d arranged eccentrically of the axis of the jaw, and the poise-forming arm 1-3 formed upon the jaw.

3. A pipe-Wrench comprising a bar terminating, at one end, in a Work-engageable jaw and having its inner edge provided with a series of notches; a slide mounted upon and slidable endwise of the said bar and provided With Aa tooth arranged to engage the notched portion of the bar; a Work-engageable jaw arranged opposite to and tiltable toward and from the first-mentioned jaw, which tiltable jaw is supported from the aforesaid slide and has an arm arranged at the outer end of the aforesaid tooth, and a suitably supported Wedge arranged as required to render it capable of entering the space between the aforesaid arm and the tooth and thereby lock the tiltable jaw.

4. A pipe-Wrench comprising the bar 5 provided, at one end, with a jaw 6, and having its inner edge provided with a series of notches' 7; a slide mounted upon the said bar and extending beyond the inner edge of the bar and provided with a tooth arranged to engage the notched portion of the aforesaid bar; a jaw arranged opposite to and tiltable toward and from the first-mentioned jaw, which tiltable jaw is provided with an arm extending in the direction of the handle-forming end of the aforesaid bar and is supported from the aforesaid slide between the aforesaid tooth and the outer and free end of the jaw-'bearing portion of the slide, and a sleeve mounted upon the said arm and provided with a Wedge arranged as required to render it capable of entering the space between the said arm and the aforesaid tooth, substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

Signed by us at Andover, Ohio, this 1st day of January, 1900.

GEORGE E. GARNER. SEDGWICK M. WADE.

Witnesses:

- F. J. BISHOP, H. R. HILL. 

